Op-Ed: The English Defence League protests in Birmingham

Birmingham
-
The English Defence League protested in Britain’s second city of Birmingham on Saturday, which they describe as a “literal hotbed of Islamic extremist activity.”

Connection between UAF and Islamist extremists highlighted

Speaking at the rally, the leader of the English Defence League, Tommy Robinson addressed the EDL supporters saying,

“Every time we demonstrate we are followed by the UAF.

“The Chief in command of the UAF, when people see frustrations boiling over like this…let me explain why. I’ll explain why. Azad Ali, who's the second in command of the UAF is on record as saying that British military are legitimate targets."

Digital Journal was previously the only news agency to reveal that Drummer Lee Rigby Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo had been a speaker at a UAF organised counter-protest in Harrow in 2009.

The far-left UAF is supported by many in the British establishment including Prime Minister David Cameron.

Tommy goes on to say, “They are a government funded organisation and he attended sermons by Abu Qatada! And with all the planning we have with the police forces, we ask that they are kept away from us. We do not want to see them. And every time they are within distance they are throwing bottles into our demonstration – every time.”

First hand Demotix photojournalist report

First hand reports on the Demotix photojournalism site put the numbers attending the EDL demo at around 1,000, but estimated the counter protest by the far-left UAF to number only about 100.

Those in attendance at the EDL rally included an Israeli speaker and an old soldier.

The far-left UAF organised counter rally was described as “small and fragmented” and it “appeared to have different agendas”.

The Demotix report says, “The UAF rally dissolved into an attack on the police with the apparent intent of breaking out to “get” the EDL in an adjacent square.” It goes on to say, “A fragmented Unite Against Fascism rally broke down to a small group, mainly masked, that taunted and tussled with the police in Birmingham.” They were “largely ignored and outnumbered by the public in the square.”

West Midlands police statement

In stark contrast to the reality of social disorder and inter-community conflict in Birmingham, West Midlands Police said in a misleading statement,

Birmingham Police will continue to liaise closely with local communities over the coming days and weeks to ensure today’s events have not adversely affected Birmingham’s reputation as a harmonious city with people of many different cultures living alongside each other in peace.

The West Midlands police statement is at best misleading and at worst a lie. Birmingham has a reputation for having a history of racial and religious tension and rioting.

In August 2011, the Daily Mail reported that racial tensions were at boiling point after rioting by black people, which left three young Muslims dead. Locals blamed the police for failing to protect the Asian community.

The Telegraph reminds us of the two nights of rioting in 2005, which led to the death of an innocent bystander Isiah Young-Sam being stabbed to death.

This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com